About Us
About the Friends of Chevalier
Friends of Chevalier Auditorium & Gene Mack Gym is a nonprofit organization of volunteers dedicated to preserving and promoting Medford’s historic Chevalier Theatre and Gene Mack Gym. Since 1993, the organization has worked alongside the City of Medford, community partners, and supporters to help ensure these treasured public spaces continue to serve generations through arts, recreation, youth programming, and civic engagement.
Our Mission
We believe historic places thrive when communities come together to support them. Through fundraising, advocacy, volunteerism, and community partnerships, Friends of Chevalier works to preserve Chevalier Theatre and Gene Mack Gym while supporting the arts, recreation, and youth programs that make these spaces vibrant community assets.
Our History
By the early 1990s, the auditorium and gymnasium on Forest Street had fallen into disrepair. On November 4, 1993, a group of Medford residents gathered at the South Medford Fire Station and founded Friends of Chevalier to help bring the building back to life.
Within a year, volunteers were scraping, sanding, and painting alongside the Chevalier Auditorium Commission, The Mystic Players, and City staff — installing new windows, curtains, and dressing rooms, and fundraising through flea markets, garden parties, and a Memorial Day parade float. The building reopened, and the Friends brought in some of its first shows, from the U.S. Air Force Band of Liberty to a community theater collaboration called “That’s Entertainment.”
That first year set the tone for three decades of continued support — for the arts, for civic life, and for the young people who use these spaces every day.
Our Timeline
1993
Friends of Chevalier is Founded
A new chapter begins.
1994
Restoration Efforts
Volunteers help restore and reopen the facility.
1990s–2000s
Fundraising Efforts
Fundraising supports continued restoration and improvements.
2018
A New Era Begins
A new era begins with professional theatre management, the Medford Recreation Department, and the Medford Youth Center.
Today
The Work Continues
The Friends continue supporting preservation, accessibility improvements, and youth programming.
Recent Accomplishments
- Helped fund air conditioning, making Chevalier a year-round venue.
- Supported restoration of the original windows and façade.
- Contributed to accessibility improvements.
- Helped refurbish the Gene Mack Gym floor and basketball equipment.
- Secured two Cummings Foundation grants totaling $350,000 for Medford Youth Center programs.
- Continue providing annual support for youth programming and affordability.
Leadership
Help Preserve a Medford Landmark
Every membership, donation, and volunteer effort helps protect Chevalier Theatre and Gene Mack Gym for future generations. Join Friends of Chevalier and become part of preserving an important piece of Medford’s history.